Anti Intellectualism

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According to Pscychology Wiki, anti intellectualism is "sentiment of hostility towards, or mistrust of, intellectuals and intellectual pursuits." Anti intellectualism is one of the greatest issues in the US and in my opinion is a major contributer to the difficulties and Aspies face. As wayofthemind puts it, "It’s geeks, or more intelligent students, being called “brainy” or “nerds” and harassed by classmates. It’s science being seen as a waste of time and money. It’s a political candidate winning an election because he successfully depicted his opponent as an “egghead”."

How many of us had been in such experiences? Because one of the major effects of Aspergers and Autism is an above average intellect, anti intellectualism effects us too along with plenty other issues. Therefore I believe that spreading awareness of anti intellectualism is just as important as spreading awareness of autism.

It was funny when I was in highschool the nerds/geeks where just as popular as the popular kids...and even some of them acted snobbish towards me. I don't know I have always been pretty intelligent and enjoy learning about things and such but I've never been classified as a nerd/geek.........yet I've still been picked on a lot. But more for being 'ret*d', stupid, weird, different, odd, a freak ect.

I didn't say anti intellectualism is the only problem that effects an aspie. It's either that or people see us like freaks which goes into the fact people make up crap about what they don't understand and often that crap is suppose to make them look superior. One thing I've seen is that when people don't like you, they'll make up what ever excuse to justify it. Then they punish you.

I am not quite sure how that problem effects aspies in general, it's not like we all fit into the stereotypical nerd/geek image. Also it seems more people take a disliking towards you if you come of as abnormal, not because you're academically smart. But maybe this varies quite a bit depending on where you grow up and who your around and all that.

All I know is that its a problem that fits me and plenty other Aspies that I know. All I'm saying is that its just A contributer, not The major contributer.

Also, there is the idea of it affecting Aspies indirectly. Intellectualism encourages reasoning, questioning, and critical thinking. Anti intellectualism therefore discourages it and therefore an anti intellectual would prefer to look at an aspie, consider him/her a freak, and never question this judgement. With intellect comes depth and that has helped some people see me for who I am rather than just a freak. But anti intellectualism only makes some one superficial and shallow, thus when they encounter an autistic person, they'de most likely consider that person a freak, and then ascociate difference with inferority.

And if you're here to argue, you might aswell just go on to some other thread or topic.

Alright I certainly do like reasoning, questioning and critical thinking, I guess I just don't see why one has to fit the nerd or geek stereotype to be intellectually minded. I guess my point was more it seems society is a bit superficial so people tend to dislike people for not fitting in or being unusual....for instance people don't dislike nerds because they are smart they dislike them because stereo-typically they are socially akward......if that makes any sense.

Also supposedly its a good thing to go to college and get good grades in society, but then most schools do not really encourage intellectualism they just encourage memorizing useless information and trying to fit people into boxes...so anti-intellectualism does seem to be an issue in society I was just confused on how exactly it relates to AS.......not trying to argue or anything just discussing it so sorry if I offended.

Being aspie do not necessary mean being intelligent.

I consider "nerd" to be a complement. Some people like to make fun of nerds, but I think the best approach is to say, "Yep, I'm a nerd and proud of it," and try not to let their opinions affect you. I know bullying can be hard to deal with, but the most important thing is that you are happy with who you are. If being intellectual is one of you greatest gifts, why should you be ashamed of that?

I don't believe spreading awareness of anti intellectualism would help us much. And spreading awareness about autism wouldn't help much either. I think instead awareness needs to be spread about how humans tend to bully anyone who's different (Basically just like spreading awareness about 'gay rights', racism and autism) but on a society wide level. (Meaning letting the world know picking on someone because they're different in any way is unacceptable.)

I also don't believe we're picked on because of intellectualism or our abilities but because we're just in general very 'different' and often an easy target. It may seem like that's a leading cause in abuse but I think it's just one of the more blatant things about most of us. If you're smart, you're a target because you're different. If you're not too good at social skills, you're a target because you're different. If you're overweight, you're a target because you're different. If you're short, you're a target because you're different.

I can relate almost every kind of bullying/trouble I've seen in my life to being because someone is different.

This theory could also be supported in the fact that most bullies or the more popular people are usually very 'normal' or 'average'.



(Sorry if I misinterpreted you. I do that most of the time. And sorry if you misinterpret this, I couldn't think of a good way to put what I was thinking into easily interpretable words...)

I've never understood people who consider intellectual bullying to be offensive... How is being intellectual supposed to be a bad thing!?
Or people who call you a nerd and then 'dumb, idiot or ret*d' Don't you realise how idiotic you sound!? First you insult someone for being smart and then you try to say they're not smart? :facepalm:

But if anyone ever insults you for these reasons don't let them know it's basically them complementing you and contradicting themselves. That way you can make them look like an idiot, whilst complimenting you and at the same time stop them from saying something that might actually be offensive... Winning.

You have to fight back and stand up for yourself but if you've had to deal with non stop negativity with no back up then you feel like you can't BUT you can. Start coming up with things to say back. Reverse their negativity by saying what the person said to you in reverse which could apply to them. It's the only way the person will even stop to think about what they've said. It's hard at first if you can't even understand the person was being rude in the first place so you have to learn the signs so you can say something back. Otherwise, they keep doing it because they can get away with it. It gives them a sense of power.

It's a power trip. Control. Where would anyone be without intellectuals?

In the movie the "Planet of the Apes" the apes rose up and started to oppress humans so much that humans eventually lost the ability to speak

lol@antintellectualism sucks, but don't challenge my ideas!

Two of the biggest issues of autism is social/communication issues, and not seeing other points of view. When that is mixed in conversation with intelligence, it is often seen as intellectual bullying by others, whether it is intended or not.

It's not likely that many individuals with Aspergers are aware they are even doing this, but there is evidence of it here, on this internet site, when one does not perceive another as meeting a standard norm of intelligence.

It's often expressed in comments on spelling and grammar, but dismissing one's argument and their prescence on differences of opinions, is an example of what could hurt another individuals feelings, in some cases.

A good historical example of intellectual bullying was that of Al Gore's debates with George W. It was an issue of unacceptable social communication in non-verbal body language, as Gore did not respect the personal space of Bush in the debate, as well as, whether intended or not, a belittling of Bush's intellect through the lack of emotional tact.

Intellectual bullying is as real as physical bullying, however the one that intellectually bullies, particularly in the case when there are social-communication issues, may have no idea that they are coming across that way.

Any problems with Aspegers and intelligence and the general public, is more likely one of misunderstanding intent or social/communication by either party in a conversation.

The anti-intellectual movement is a societial phenomenon, that is usually based on larger scale events, when morals and philsophy do not meet eye to eye.

It started long ago when philosophy and science did not match religious ideology, and continues today the same, with death threats to philosphers, that would dare to make an ethics argument that the personhood of a newborn and a fetus, is not that much different.

The same moral offenses against intellectualism, can be felt from Aspies, just as easily, depending on what the issue is that does not meet one's standard of morality.

Aspergers is a disorder of social communication, but normal intelligence is the only requirement to be diagnosed. Actual studies on Aspergers intelligence suggest it is a few points underneath the rest of society.

So, it is not likely that anti-intellectualism, per intelligence alone, is any more of a problem for Aspies than for anyone else on average in the general population.

Problems with communication, though, do lead to misunderstandings with others, it is extremely hard to avoid that, when one has an inherent social-communication impairment.

The highest of intelligent people reflect those with personalities like Bill Gates and those with personalities like Bill Clinton.

One was seen as social, one was not, but in their personal dealings with their subordinates both were seen as intellectual bullies whether they personally were aware of it or not, by those subordinates.

Clinton was considered intellectually elite, but his social intelligence and abilities were phenomenal as well.

Obama is considered intellectually elite. So, was John Kerry who displayed average intelligence in school.

Gates, with his IQ that was as high as Clinton's, is not normally considered as one of the intellectually elite of society, even as a director now of a world wide charity.

He presents few controversial views nor is he particularly outspoken on issues that would normally be considered as issues that evoke anti-intellectual sentiment in society.

Just from a statistical point of view, since intelligence has not been objectively measured as higher than the general population among aspies, it is likely the social-communication problems are the main source of problems in dealing with others on a day to day basis; the role that normal intelligence plays is not likely that much different that what others encounter in day to day life.

However, in those cases where higher intelligence mixes with social communication problems the likelyhood of unintentional intellectual bullying against others naturally increases. And, it very likely results in responses, that are not always received well.

I like the planet of the apes analogy; today the ape that is reducing the opportunity and the ability for speech, are the machines created by the humans that naturally limit the opportunity and ability for speech.

Those humans that created the machines were in part those that possessed the intellect of systemizers. While it is a form of intellect, it is not normally the source of the type of anti-intellectualism that is commonly attributed to the philosophers, artists, and writers whose ideas don't match the moral norms of society. Science is an exception, but it is not the issue, that it was on a historical basis.

Bill Clinton, with his extreme intelligence of both types, considered himself unpopular and was bullied as a youth, but he attributed it to being overweight.

http://thenewsforall.com/bill-clinton-bullied-overweight/

And. ironically, a very large study done several years ago, found that although indviduals with autism are reported by many sources as the targets of bullies, individuals with Autism with the co-morbid of ADD/ADHD bully others, at a rate of four times higher than the general population and others with autism not diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Speculated causes are both pent-up energy and the fact that those that are bullied are more likely to bully, themselves.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070517100417.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd



Social intelligence is recognized by most social animals.

The Star Quarterback that is the straight A student does not normally fall within these parameters.

The term started to lose it's perjorative value starting in the 80's with the technological revolution, Huey Lewis and the News, and the song "It's Hip to be Square"; the song and movie ''Weird Science", and movies like "Revenge of the Nerds".

Thursday Night NBC TV has moved from "Cheers" to "Friends" to 21st century "The Office".

Society is moving away from the historical social paradigm norm of humanity; it is reflective both in media, and real life.

Obsessive interests like the development of Computer and Video Game software, is behind a great deal of cultural change that is still distant, but moving ever closer to "Nerd", as the standard rather than the odd.

Of course it depends, to a large degree, on which part of culture one is currently part of.

When people use those unfavorable terms along with Nerd it's not about impairments in general IQ, it's about impairments in social intelligence, communicated for the most part through non-verbal language.

Some people with Autistic traits are fully unaware of deficiencies in this area, but those whom are interacted with, at times, notice it almost immediately in communication. It's hard to say how someone will respond to reduced or unusual non-verbal social communication, most people are tactful enough not to make fun of it.

And to the point made in the last couple of posts, communication from those whom are highly intelligent with a mix of communication impairments, may come across in communication as an intellectual bully without being aware of it, or intending it.

Interesting though, Wiki's definition of Nerd, generally approximates that of Aspergers in the DSMIV, even moving into some of the clinical features, like problems with motor coordination.

I thought Nerd had lost it's appeal as an actual term of offense by now. I was called much worse things than that in middle school. Nerd would have been a relief. I thought Nerd had lost it's popularity in the 50's from when "the Fonz" used it in the old TV show "Happy Days"; it wasn't really presented as a real insult on that old TV show.

Insulting intelligence whether it is social or academic based can be tough on the other person, and for those that have never really questioned their own intelligence social and/or academic, the understanding of academic and/or social bullying in it's subtle forms, can be hard to understand and empathize with.

Some people are insulted in both ways, at least folks that are blessed with high levels of intelligence don't have to feel the full sting of both types of insults.

No man, the people who will begin to bully are just not the type to listen to what their victim says and reflect about themselves. All that will probably happen with your suggestion is that the situation will probably just intensify. Bullies are cowards. Play their game, return a power that is greater than their own and they will drop it.